Area Manager

Steak n Shake; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Steak ’n Shake is seeking an Area Manager to lead, grow, and restore the brand across multiple restaurants in the district. This is an operator role for a proven leader who drives results through high standards, accountability, and team development.

You will coach General Managers, implement brand standards, and execute district plans to increase sales, improve guest experience, and protect profitability. Strong communication and a demonstrated track record are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership across multiple units preferred
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• Ability to read, write, and analyze data

Responsibilities

• Lead district with a focus on sales growth and profitability
• Protect brand standards and ensure consistency across stores
• Coach General Managers and oversee talent development
• Partner with Division President on district plans and execution
• Drive guest satisfaction and operational excellence

Skills

Multi-unit leadership

People development

Brand execution

Sales leadership

Accountability

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Steak ’n Shake is hiring an Area Manager ready to lead, win, and help restore one of America’s iconic restaurant brands to greatness.

This is not a maintenance role. This is an operator role for a leader who believes in hard work, accountability, high standards, and results.

Steak ’n Shake is in a new era. We are focused on better food, stronger execution, and a return to the fundamentals that built great American restaurant brands: quality, service, cleanliness, discipline, and pride.

We serve real food, made fresh to order. Beef tallow fries. Grass‑fed Steakburgers. No microwaves. Fresh ingredients. Clear standards. Real execution. We are looking for an Area Manager who can assist the Division President in leading multiple restaurants, developing strong General Managers, protecting the brand, growing sales, and building a culture where people take ownership. Our pace is fast. Our standards are high. Our mission is clear.

Who You Are

You are a leader who:

• Believes in the Golden Rule
• Has a competitive spirit and a desire to win
• Has a proven track record of leadership; multi‑unit leadership preferred
• Possesses high character and high competence
• Takes pride in hard work, personal responsibility, and results
• Wants to improve the lives of employees and customers
• Holds people accountable without lowering the standard

Leads from the front and sets the example every day

Who We Are

Steak ’n Shake is an American brand with nearly a century of history and a clear path forward. We believe trust builds loyalty. We believe employees deserve strong leadership, clear expectations, and real opportunity. We are determined to be the employer of choice and to pursue our goal of being a maximum‑wage employer. We are focused on leading and dominating the premium burger segment of the restaurant industry. That requires operators who can execute, compete, and win.

Overall Mission

• The Area Manager is responsible for modeling and ensuring consistent execution of Quality, Service, and Cleanliness while delivering district‑level business performance results. This leader drives the standard of “Every Store Perfect” by building a culture of accountability, ownership, and disciplined execution.

This is accomplished by:

• Protecting financial and operational standards through process, follow‑up, and accountability
• Holding store teams accountable for growing sales and profit
• Maintaining quality at the highest level, as measured by Gold Standards
• Clearly communicating brand standards and expectations
• Coaching, training, and mentoring management teams
• Building an ownership mentality focused on both top‑line and bottom‑line results

Creating an environment aligned with the Company Mission and Vision

Key Responsibilities

Sales and Profit Growth

• Lead the district with an unrelenting focus on sales growth and profitability
• Ensure district results meet expectations across key performance measures
• Report district performance to the Division President on a quarterly basis
• Partner with the Division President on DMA‑level and local store marketing plans

Execute local marketing strategies that drive traffic, sales, and brand awareness

People Development

• Coach General Managers to hold their teams accountable for service, quality, cleanliness, facility, safety, and financial results
• Oversee crew training, recertification, development, and promotion processes
• Lead bench planning discussions with the Division President and Human Resources
• Interview, hire, and train quality management candidates
• Ensure effective MIT and Manager Training execution through weekly visits and feedback
• Support the development of General Manager hires in partnership with the Division President
• Ensure the most effective use of company assets and district talent
• Coach General Managers on appropriate staffing levels
• Build a strong internal leadership bench

Brand Execution

• Model, coach, mentor, train, and communicate service and production expectations
• Maintain standards in Service, Quality, Cleanliness, Facility, and Safety
• Hold General Managers and their teams accountable for improving guest experience measures
• Coach management teams on action plans for rapid improvement
• Partner with Maintenance to protect facility and equipment standards
• Lead new product, process, and program rollouts
• Ensure effective implementation of new products, processes, and programs in every restaurant
• Lead with structure, discipline, and urgency
• Celebrate wins and recognize improved or top performance during every store visit
• Build a culture of pride, accountability, and performance
• Partner with Human Resources on associate and management investigations in accordance with company procedures

Key Performance Measures

• Guest feedback
• Drive‑thru window times
• Brand protection
• Food safety
• Food cost – Labor cost

Requirements

• College degree or equivalent education preferred
• Positive and motivating communication skills
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and people‑development skills
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment
• Ability to read, write, perform mathematical calculations, and analyze data
• Ability to demonstrate the Golden Rule, relentless pursuit of excellence, exceeding guest expectations, economic ownership, and an entrepreneurial approach
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work more than 50 hours per week as business needs require
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stretch, and move throughout the restaurant
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds
• Ability to perform any task performed by a service or production associate
• Ability to see across the restaurant to monitor and oversee operations
• Ability to hear, understand, and professionally respond to guest and employee questions, comments, and concerns

Lead the comeback Steak ’n Shake is looking for Area Managers who believe in standards, accountability, hard work, and winning. This is a role for operators who want to build teams, grow sales, protect the brand, and help lead the next chapter of a great American restaurant company. If you are ready to lead with pride, discipline, and purpose, we want to hear from you.